2024 MLB All-Star Game: Who’s In?

With the 2024 MLB All-Star Game ballots finally out, it’s always fun for fans to fill out their ballots and write in some of their favorite players around the league. Whether you fill out one or use all five daily write-ins, it’s a fun way to peak fan interest as well as a way for the game to include players fans want to see play. Of course, some fan bases will abuse the system to see their players in the game, like when Royals fans dominated the 2015 ballot, as seven starters for the American League that year represented Kansas City. This was highlighted by Eric Hosmer starting over that year's batting champion Miguel Cabrera. To look at this year’s game, let’s see who’s starting around the diamond for both leagues if it was today. 

American League

First base: Josh Naylor, Cleveland Guardians

Naylor, while batting only .229, is raking this season with 16 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a 131 OPS+ which is good for a 1.2 bWAR. Besides breaking out his 'Rock The Baby' against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the 2021 ALDS, Naylor has yet to make a huge impact on the MLB. However, he has been a consistent bat in the Guardian’s lineup. He deserves to be the starter at first base. 

Second base: Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers

The two-time all-star and 2023 World Series Champion is putting up yet another fantastic season. He’s batting .264 with 10 home runs, 35 RBIs, a 2.8 bWAR, and an incredible 16 defensive runs saved so far. Not only does it with the bat, but he does also it in the field. He should be starting in this all-star game

Third base: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians

J-Ram continues to be the most under-the-radar player in the MLB, which is crazy to think about as he is the consensus best third baseman. Ramirez is batting .272 with 16 home runs, 58 RBIs, nine stolen bases, and has a 2.3 bWAR. The five-time all-star is no rookie when it comes to all-star games and is on track to be one of the best players in Cleveland history. He has been the best third baseman in the whole MLB this year.

Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

In opposition to 2015, Witt Jr. is the only Royal in my starting lineup, but his teammate Salvador Perez might sneak into a starting spot come July. Witt Jr. was worth all the hype, as he is one of the best shortstops in the game right now. He is batting .319 with 11 home runs, 46 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, and a 3.8 bWAR. He is going to be an all-star for years to come.

Outfield: Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, New York  Yankees, and Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros

All three guys have been absolute studs this year and are frontrunners for this year’s all-star game. Soto, however, left Thursday’s game with forearm discomfort and there is no update this far. If all is healthy, he’s more than deserving for his fourth all-star game, as he’s batting .319 with 17 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a 3.8 bWAR. Judge, after a slow start, has heated up nicely batting .293 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a league-leading 4.3 bWAR. Kyle Tucker, another under-the-radar guy, is batting .266 with 19 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a 3.5 bWAR. All three guys, if healthy, will also be in MVP talks. 

Pitcher: Luis Gil, New York Yankees.

Call me a biased Yankees fan all you want, but Gil has been absolutely filthy this year. Furthermore, before this season, he didn’t pitch for over 600 days due to injury. In 12 starts, Gil is 8-1 with a 1.82 ERA, has 85 strikeouts in 69.1 innings, and has a 2.7 bWAR. He has been one of the most unexpected stars and is filling in for Cole quite nicely. 

Catcher: Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles

I know I know Perez might be having a better offensive season. However, Rutschman gets a slight edge because of his defense. He has lodged more blocking runs than Perez. On the season, Rutschman is batting .304 with 10 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a 2.1 bWAR, which is deserving of being an all-star starter.

National League 

First base: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

The former MVP has been one of the most electric bats in the Phillies lineup and is a big part of why they have had such a hot start this season. On the Year, Harper is batting .268 with 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a 2.0 bWAR. He is looking for his eighth all-star game. Don’t be surprised to see him in the Home Run Derby as well.

Second base: Luis Arráez, San Diego Padres

Arraez, a two-time all-star, is the best pure-contact hitter in the whole league. On the year, he’s batting .337 with one home run, 17 RBIs, and a 1.4 bWAR. Even though second base is somewhat of a weak position, he’s having a great year. He’s looking for his first start. 

Third base: Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants

Chapman, while taking a step back, is looking for his second all-star game. He’s batting .238 with eight home runs, 28 RBIs, and a 2.6 bWAR. While these numbers might not look great, he’s 12 points above average with a 112 OPS+. He is also still slick with the glove, with 12 defensive runs saved. 

Shortstop: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

This is weird. If he wasn’t already an elite right fielder, of course, he’s also an elite shortstop. On the year, Betts is batting .309 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs, and a 3.6 bWAR. The Dodgers are an elite team and a World Series contender, even with Shohei Ohtani being a full-time designated hitter, where he will start in his own right. Betts will be starting his first all-star game at shortstop. 

Outfield: Teoscar Hernández, Los Angeles Dodgers, Jurickson Profar, Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego Padres

This is a pretty solid outfield, and it’s surprising having two Padres here.  Hernandez is batting .247 with 12 home runs, 38 RBIs with a 1.1 bWAR. Onto Profar, who would be in his first all-star game, is batting .283 with eight home runs, and 38 RBIs with a 1.9 bWAR. Lastly, Tatis Jr., the reformed right fielder, is batting .277 with 10 home runs, and 32 RBIs with a 1.5 bWAR.

Catcher: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers

After a breakout 2023 season, Contreras has proved himself as a top-five catcher in the MLB. On the season he is batting .313 with eight home runs, 44 RBIs, and has a 2.5 bWAR. He will be in his second all-star game and will be in many more to come.

Pitcher: Ranger Suárez Philadelphia Phillies

Suarez has been a breakout star for the Phillies this season. He has boosted this already stacked rotation. Suarez is posting a 1.70 ERA with a 9-1 record in 12 starts. He also has an insane .797 WHIP. He has emerged as a Cy Young candidate.

This is when baseball really starts ramping up, and it’s fun debating this with other people. Obviously, it’s still early June and I do not decide on the voting, so these aren’t all the right answers. I know there are going to be some guys I just straight-up forgot about and other guys people might think I snubbed. If you think I left anyone off this list or if I blatantly missed an obvious player, let me know in the comments.